Slovenia + Short breaks | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/slovenia+short-breaks
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Culture hub: Maribor, Sloveniahttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/dec/30/maribor-slovenia-european-capital-culture
Why has the pretty riverside city of Maribor in Slovenia been selected as European capital of culture 2012? We join its creative crowd to find out<p>&quot;The biggest jazz stars came to Maribor in the 1980s,&quot; reminisces the drinker sitting beside me in KGB, a bar and cabaret venue in Maribor, Slovenia's second city. The legendary US bassist Reggie Workman married a woman from Maribor, she adds, &quot;because of course you had the parties afterwards&quot;.</p><p>It isn't hard to imagine such glamour in this former wine cellar: it is cosy and wood-panelled, a candlelit space that hosts live performances from experimental theatre to classic blues (the joke with the name KGB is that the initials stand for &quot;culture and music den&quot; in Slovene).</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/dec/30/maribor-slovenia-european-capital-culture">Continue reading...</a>SloveniaEuropeTravelCultural tripsCity breaksShort breaksWeekend breaksEuropean capital of cultureFri, 30 Dec 2011 22:45:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/dec/30/maribor-slovenia-european-capital-cultureWalter Bibikow/Getty Images/AWL Images RMMaribor, Slovenia. Photograph: Walter Bibikow/Getty ImagesStefan Cioata/Getty Images/Flickr OpenStill waters … Maribor, Slovenia’s second city, near the Austrian border. Photograph: Stefan Cioata/Getty Images/Flickr OpenStefan Cioata/Getty Images/Flickr OpenStill waters … Maribor, Slovenia’s second city, near the Austrian border. Photograph: Stefan Cioata/Getty Images/Flickr OpenJonathan Knott2011-12-30T22:45:00ZLucky dip: warming spa breaks for winterhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/oct/28/spa-breaks-hotels
Chill out in a Croatian hotel where Elizabeth Taylor stayed or rest your weary bones in Hungary (but only after you've explored the countryside by bike)<p>Staying at the Grand Hotel Kronenhof (+41 81 830 3030, <a href="http://www.kronenhof.com/en/rooms-rates/package-deals/winter.html?cHash=1&amp;tx_dynamic_packages[uid]=218&amp;L=1" title="">kronenhof.com</a>) in Pontresina, a peaceful mountain village, allows you to combine skiing and spa-ing. The hotel is six miles from St Moritz and has an indoor infinity pool, flotation pool, saunas and steam rooms. A two-day package costs &pound;380pp, excluding flights is available 6-18 December and 9-19 January includes half board, 30% off ski passes and spa access, and 10% off treatments.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/oct/28/spa-breaks-hotels">Continue reading...</a>Spa breaksHealth and fitnessHotelsSloveniaItalyHungarySwitzerlandShort breaksTravelCroatiaFri, 28 Oct 2011 21:45:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/oct/28/spa-breaks-hotelsPRThe Lefay Resort & Spa in Italy overlooks Lake GardaPRThe Lefay Resort & Spa in Italy overlooks Lake GardaRachel Dixon2011-10-28T21:45:03ZMaster strokes: wild swimming in Sloveniahttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/aug/26/swimming-slovenia-lakes
Martin Strel has swum the Amazon, so leading a tour of the rivers and lakes of his native Slovenia should be easy …<p>&quot;You are going to meet Martin Strel?&quot; a woman says to me in Ljubljana.</p><p>&quot;You know who he is?&quot; I ask.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/aug/26/swimming-slovenia-lakes">Continue reading...</a>Swimming holidaysSloveniaAdventure travelShort breaksEuropeTravelFri, 26 Aug 2011 21:45:02 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/aug/26/swimming-slovenia-lakesMidoThe group on the shore of Lake BohinjMidoMartin Strel (left) with JonathanMidoMartin (pink cap) with a trip member in Lake Bled. Photographs: MidoMidoSwimming in Lake Bled. Photograph: MidoJonathan Knott2011-08-26T21:45:02ZAsk Tom: your travel questions answeredhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/dec/13/travel-ask-tom-letters
Tom Hall of Lonely Planet answers your questions about worldwide travel<p><strong>Q: My friend and I are taking a week's holiday during the first two weeks of the World Cup (11-25 June). Our aim is to watch England (and our rivals') games in local bars in a friendly atmosphere, and maybe do some sightseeing. Now the draw has been made we have decided on Slovenia. Can you suggest a football-friendly region where we can mix with the locals and enjoy some nightlife? </strong></p><p><strong><em>Stephen Nutkins, by email</em></strong></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/dec/13/travel-ask-tom-letters">Continue reading...</a>SloveniaWorld Cup 2010LjubljanaCanary IslandsPortugalNetherlandsNew YorkHotelsFlightsParisShort breaksCity breaksWeekend breaksTravelWorld CupSun, 13 Dec 2009 00:06:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/dec/13/travel-ask-tom-lettersAlamyBeautiful Skofja Loka in Slovenia.
Photograph: AlamyTom Hall2009-12-13T00:06:28Z20 fantastic family holiday villashttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/feb/21/cheap-self-catering-holiday-villas
Finding the right holiday villa is fraught with difficulty but don't worry, we've done the hard work for you and picked 20 fantastic self-catering pads where the only risk is not wanting to leave<p><strong>Finca Malvasia, Lanzarote</strong></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/feb/21/cheap-self-catering-holiday-villas">Continue reading...</a>Self-cateringFamily holidaysTravelCampingCanary IslandsCroatiaFranceNetherlandsGreeceItalySicilyRomaniaSloveniaSpainTurkeyShort breaksEuropeSat, 21 Feb 2009 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/feb/21/cheap-self-catering-holiday-villasPRGo with the flow ... swimming in the river Merse near Campalfi in ItalyPRRiver Merse, Campalfi near Siena, Italy Photograph: PRCompiled by Abigail Flanagan and Teresa Machan2009-02-21T00:01:00ZFamily holidays for lesshttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/feb/11/family-holidays-budget
Joanna Moorhead recommends holidays that won't break the family budget<p>The weather's cold, the economic news is grim ... you need a holiday to look forward to this summer. But if you've got kids in tow, finding something affordable isn't easy. So we've done the searching for you, and come up with 10 great ideas.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/feb/11/family-holidays-budget">Continue reading...</a>Family holidaysBudget travelShort breaksUnited KingdomCroatiaSloveniaPolandTurkeyDorsetYorkshireWed, 11 Feb 2009 13:01:43 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/feb/11/family-holidays-budgetmoodboard/CorbisPlan ahead ... there are some great early family deals to be found. Photograph: moodboard/Corbismoodboard/CorbisFamily on holiday. Photograph: moodboard/CorbisJoanna Moorhead2009-02-11T13:01:43ZTen ways to celebrate Christmashttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/nov/01/winter-sports-christmas-new-year
Snow, fresh air and parties - skiing was made for Christmas. Here are 10 ways to celebrate<p>Deliver your kid's wishlist personally on a ski 'n' Santa trip to Levi in Finnish Lapland. It has snow-sure slopes, great beginner, intermediate and cross-country routes, cheap lift passes and unique cultural activities.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/nov/01/winter-sports-christmas-new-year">Continue reading...</a>Winter sportsChristmas and New YearFinlandSloveniaFranceAustriaSkiingHotelsShopping tripsItalyFamily holidaysAndorraTravelling soloBudget travelSwitzerlandShort breaksSelf-cateringWeekend breaksTravelSat, 01 Nov 2008 00:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/nov/01/winter-sports-christmas-new-yearPRWhite rider ... ski and ride, AustriaPRJill Starley-Grainger2008-11-01T00:01:00ZBenji Lanyado finds Slovenia's tiny coastline boasts an undiscovered Adriatic gemhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jun/21/slovenia.piran
The Slovenian coastline is tiny, but it boasts one of the undiscovered gems of the Adriatic<p>In the corner of a tiny courtyard surrounded by peeling baroque facades, under a veranda sparsely clad with vines, a handful of fishermen were being about as noisy as people get in Piran. Wine was being tapped from a wooden barrel, ferried out to the tables, and poured down gullets at 80 cents a pop. As they drank into the night, their morning catch was being steamed and guzzled. A few weeks before, I had never heard of Piran; now it was charming the hell out of me.</p><p>All this because of a lost afternoon whizzing around Google Maps. Looking longingly at the Adriatic coast, I'd noticed a blip where Italy stops and Croatia starts. Zooming in, I discovered that this blip is Slovenian. A tiny chunk of prime coastal real estate. It's as if Italy and Croatia were once minding their own business on the European couch, and, when they weren't paying attention, a tiny morsel of Slovenia snuggled in between them.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jun/21/slovenia.piran">Continue reading...</a>SloveniaLjubljanaShort breaksTravelRomantic tripsFri, 20 Jun 2008 23:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jun/21/slovenia.piranBenji Lanyado/Benji LanyadoPiran pickings... a view over. Photograph: Benji LanyadoBenji Lanyado/Benji LanyadoPiran pickings... a view over. Photograph: Benji LanyadoBenji Lanyado2008-06-20T23:01:00ZFlying visit: Lake Balaton, Hungaryhttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/jul/01/shortbreaks.hungary.slovenia.vienna.netherlands
Lake Balaton, Hungary<p><strong>Why now?</strong><br /> Ryanair's new route has opened up the scenic area of volcanic hills and vineyards around Lake Balaton. Summer temperatures are in the mid-30s - perfect for a dip in the lake and cycling the marked <a href="http://www.trials.gotohungary.co.uk">trials.gotohungary.co.uk</a>.</p><p> <strong>Getting there</strong><br /> Ryanair (<a href="http://www.ryanair.com">ryanair.com</a>) flies from Stansted to Fly Balaton Airport (don't ask me why it's called that).</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/jul/01/shortbreaks.hungary.slovenia.vienna.netherlands">Continue reading...</a>Short breaksTravelSloveniaViennaHungaryNetherlandsAustriaHotelsSat, 01 Jul 2006 16:48:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/jul/01/shortbreaks.hungary.slovenia.vienna.netherlandsGuardian Staff2006-07-01T16:48:44ZDetox, retox in Sloveniahttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/jun/23/slovenia.travelfoodanddrink.shortbreaks
As access to the cosmopolitan, former Yugoslavian state gets even easier with a new flight from Ryanair in September, Liane Katz discovers a land of historical riches, fine wines and spas<p>Slovenia - can you put your hand on your heart and say you know exactly where it is? Could you find it on a map? It has been tricky, these past few centuries, what with the territory having variously formed part of the Holy Roman and Habsburg empires and most recently the former Yugoslavia.</p><p>South of Hungary ... somewhere near Austria? OK, I'll put you out of your misery: cosmopolitan Slovenia is surrounded by Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, with a mere 29-mile Adriatic coastline. This results in an intriguing mix of Austrian efficiency and business sense alongside an Italian attitude towards food, style and time. Even the Slovene language has its fair share of foreign imports such as &quot;ciao&quot; for hi, pršut for cured ham and &quot;zeit&quot; for time.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/jun/23/slovenia.travelfoodanddrink.shortbreaks">Continue reading...</a>SloveniaTravelFood and drinkFood & drinkRest and relaxationShort breaksSpa breaksFri, 23 Jun 2006 15:28:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/jun/23/slovenia.travelfoodanddrink.shortbreaksLiane Katz2006-06-23T15:28:44ZFlying visit: Ptuj, Sloveniahttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/feb/18/shortbreaks.slovenia
Ptuj, Slovenia<p><strong>Why now?</strong><br /> Slovenia's oldest town holds its Kurent Festival from Feb 18-28 (the lead-up to Shrove Tuesday). The main event, on Sunday Feb 26, is a procession of masked participants in attire created from sheepskin, feathers and beads - very Wombles. They parade through the streets making a racket with instruments, warding off evil spirits and bringing luck and health by smashing clay pots. And you thought you had to go to South America for this sort of thing.</p><p><strong>Getting there</strong><br />A three-night package with Just Slovenia (01373 814230, <a href="http://www.justslovenia.co.uk">justslovenia.co.uk</a>) starts at &pound;329pp including flights from Gatwick, Birmingham or Manchester to Ljubljana, car hire and B&amp;B.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/feb/18/shortbreaks.slovenia">Continue reading...</a>Short breaksSloveniaTravelSat, 18 Feb 2006 16:17:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/feb/18/shortbreaks.sloveniaSally Shalam2006-02-18T16:17:12ZSloveniahttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2004/may/02/shortbreaks.slovenia.observerescapesection
Ten nations join the EU this weekend, stretching its borders to the east and south. We pinpoint the highlights for short-break visitors wanting to meet the new EU neighbours<p><strong>What should I do there?</strong><br /> Ljubljana, it's the new...er, no, not really. The old town's charming and a Tito Elvis karaoke bar will probably open soon, but a night or two is enough. Then head for stunning Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj - skinny dip in the summer, ski in the winter. Alternatively, pick the coastal town of Piran, a gem of Venetian Gothic architecture. </p><p><strong> What shouldn't I do?</strong><br /> Spend too much time in Portoroz, near Piran - lots of middle-aged Germans in unfortunate Speedos, and dodgy Russian millionaires with their blonde girlfriends bling-blinging it at the casino. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2004/may/02/shortbreaks.slovenia.observerescapesection">Continue reading...</a>Short breaksTravelSloveniaSun, 02 May 2004 17:58:42 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/travel/2004/may/02/shortbreaks.slovenia.observerescapesectionRafael Behr, Liz Bird, Gemma Bowes, Richard Eilers and Carl Wilkinson2004-05-02T17:58:42Z